Phil Spector - Part "I" [[sounds like eye) - "The Later Productions"

[Philles/Motown Gary]

LEONARD COHEN: [[From Wikipedia)

By the mid-1970s, both Cohen and Spector were on a downward slide commercially. Although he remained quite popular in Europe, Cohen had never managed to achieve the success in the United States that Columbia Records had hoped for. Spector, who had created scores of hits like "Be My Baby" and "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" with his Wall of Sound production technique in the 1960s, had experienced a rebirth of sorts in the early seventies by producing albums by John Lennon and George Harrison but, as the decade wore on, the always eccentric producer's behaviour became increasingly unhinged. The craziness would escalate when Spector reunited with Lennon to record a rock and roll oldies project called "Roots", which would eventually come out in 1975 under the title "Rock 'N' Roll". The sessions took place in a chaotic fog of drugs, booze, and hangers-on as the equally troubled Lennon drank his way through his infamous "lost weekend." In the 2003 book Phil Spector: Wall of Pain, biographer Dave Thompson recounts one famous incident when Spector, a notorious gun nut, fired off a pistol in the studio. "Listen Phil, if you're goin' to kill me, kill me, " Lennon remarked dryly, "but don't fuck with me ears. I need 'em." Such behaviour did Spector's reputation no favors, and as the hits dried up, he was viewed more and more by the rock press as an oldies act.

As Ira Nadel notes in the 1996 Cohen memoir Various Positions: A Life of Leonard Cohen, stories differ as to how Cohen and Spector became collaborators:

The liner notes on the album state that Marty Machat, who was Spector's lawyer as well as Cohen's, introduced them. According to Cohen, this occurred backstage after one of his performances at the Troubadour in L.A.. Spector had uncharacteristically left his well-protected home to see Cohen, and at the show was strangely silent. Spector then invited Cohen back to his home, which, because of the air-conditioning, was very chilly -- about "thirty-two degrees," Cohen recalled...Spector locked the door and Cohen reacted by saying, "As long as we are locked up, we might as well write some songs together." They went to the piano and started that night. For about a month they wrote [[and drank) together and Cohen remembers it as a generous period, although he had to wear an overcoat almost constantly to work in Spector's freezing home.

Biographer Anthony Reynolds writes in the 2010 book Leonard Cohen: A Remarkable Life that friend and fellow Canadian songwriter Joni Mitchell tried to warn Cohen about working with Spector, Mitchell having witnessed some of the insanity between Spector and Lennon in L.A., but initially - at least at the songwriting stage - the pair worked well together. Songwriter John Prine, who had also witnessed the producer's bizarre antics when he had been invited to his house to compose a song together, later marveled to Paul Zollo of BluebirdRailroad magazine that as soon as Spector "sat down with an instrument, he was normal." Things would change once Cohen and Spector entered a studio, with the producer's paranoia taking over and Cohen becoming increasingly disengaged from the project.


Warner Brothers WB M5 3125 [[Released 11/1977) [[Later reissued on Columbia)
LEONARD COHEN
"Death Of A Ladies' Man"

All tracks written by Leonard Cohen [[Words) & Phil Spector [[Music)

Producer: Phil Spector

Side A:

1) "True Love Leaves No Traces" [[w/Ronee Blakely)
https://youtu.be/FT3Fg2TtmlI

2) "Iodine"
https://youtu.be/9FY80bxTvCY

3) "Paper-Thin Hotel"
https://youtu.be/rN6H3B42j1k

4) "Memories"
https://youtu.be/cGPlzD7EEbs

Side B:

1) "I Left A Woman Waiting"
https://youtu.be/6AQFKPCCaxs

2) "Don't Go Home With Your Hard-On"
https://youtu.be/AxQ7YJH0vxg

3) "Fingerprints"
https://youtu.be/0NUca6Ruul0

4) "Death Of A Ladies' Man"
https://youtu.be/_RzPxX0msFg

[Philles/Motown Gary]

THE PALEY BROTHERS: [[From Wikipedia)
The Paley Brothers were an American power-pop duo formed in 1976 by brothers Andy and Jonathan Paley. After releasing one studio album and EP, they disbanded in 1979, although the brothers continued to collaborate on other projects. They are characterized by their more straightforward AM radio pop style which contrasted the ironic or aggressive attitudes projected by other power pop groups of the era.

Real Gone Music [[Sire) RGM 01822 [[Released 2013)
THE PALEY BROTHERS
"The Complete Recordings"

[[All tracks recorded 1976-79)

Producer: Phil Spector [[Track 26 only)

1) "Here Comes My Baby"
[[Andy Paley - Jonathan Paley)
Producer: Andy Paley
Previously Unreleased
https://youtu.be/0hmzsuWZOsM

2) "Meet The Invisible Man"
[[Andy Paley)
Producer: Andy Paley
Previously Unreleased
NO SOUND CLIP AVAILABLE

3) "Too Good To Be True"
[[Andy Paley)
Producer: Earl Mankey
https://youtu.be/0N4M_fFRva8

4) "Boomerang"
[[Andy Paley - Jonathan Paley)
Producer: Andy Paley
Previously Unreleased
https://youtu.be/bSyDV5lM4kM

5) "Felicia"
[[Bobby Groccia - Mary Groccia)
Producers: Andy & Jonathan Paley
Previously Unreleased
NO SOUND CLIP AVAILABLE

6) "Come Out And Play"
[[Andy Paley - Jonathan Paley)
Producer: Jimmy Iovine
https://youtu.be/WmirpJL2ITY

7) "She's Eighteen Tonight"
[[Andy Paley)
Producer: Andy Paley
Previously Unreleased
NO SOUND CLIP AVAILABLE

8) "Running In The Rain"
[[Andy Paley)
Producer: Andy Paley
Previously Unreleased
https://youtu.be/McxV4XDMZeo

9) "Sapphire Eyes"
[[Andy Paley)
Producer: Andy Paley
Previously Unreleased
NO SOUND CLIP AVAILABLE

10) "Come On Let's Go" [[w/The Ramones)
[[Ritchie Valens)
Producer: Earl Mankey
https://youtu.be/13Mtz-rDD2A

11) "I Heard The Bluebirds Sing"
[[Hod Pharis)
Producer: Earl Mankey
https://youtu.be/QyO2eofQx5U

12) "Down The Line"
[[Buddy Holly - Bob Montgomery)
Producer: Earl Mankey
https://youtu.be/l1si7d4Am-s

13) "Sheila"
[[Tommy Roe)
Producers: Andy & Jonathan Paley
Previously Unreleased
NO SOUND CLIP AVAILABLE

14) "You're The Best"
[[Andy Paley - Jonathan Paley)
Producer: Earl Mankey
https://youtu.be/Q7aRzNR75Y8

15) "Stick With Me Baby"
[[Mel Tillis)
Producer: Earl Mankey
https://youtu.be/0-0QQLf3TDM

16) "Hide And Seek"
[[Andy Paley)
Producer: Jimmy Iovine
https://youtu.be/cJbEHAJm1YI

17) "Lovin' Eyes Can't Lie"
[[Andy Paley - Jonathan Paley)
Producer: Earl Pankey
https://youtu.be/A1c6SKKw8ew

18) "Spring Fever"
[[Andy Paley - Jonathan Paley)
Producer: Andy Paley
https://youtu.be/5KvF2tLqJfU

19) "Rendezvous"
[[Andy Paley)
Producer: Jimmy Iovine
https://youtu.be/osWU0DgMDjs

20) "Jacques Cousteau [[The Young Jacques"
[[Andy Paley)
Producer: Andy Paley
https://youtu.be/FBVH7BYlH7M

21) "Tell Me Tonight"
[[Andy Paley - Jonathan Paley"
Producer: Earl Mankey
https://youtu.be/A6ZX8iZI2Kc

22) "Magic Power"
[[Leigh Foxx - Andy Paley)
Producer: Earl Mankey
https://youtu.be/ETLOg_a6hVE

23) "Turn The Tide"
[[Leigh Foxx - Andy Paley)
Producer: Earl Mankey
https://youtu.be/mU7txXpY0X4

24) "Ecstasy"
[[Billy Connors)
Producer: Jimmy Iovine
https://youtu.be/JoT-4iORaoE

25) "Theme From Fireball X-L5"
[[Barry Gray)
Producer: Jonathan Paley
Previously Unreleased
NO SOUND CLIP AVAILABLE

26) "Baby, Let's Stick Together"
[[Phil Spector - Jeff Barry)
Producer: Phil Spector
Previously Unreleased
https://youtu.be/K32A5ZmzC1I

[NOTE: Phil also produced "Baby, Let's Stick Together" on Dion from his "Born To Be With You" album on Phil Spector International Records.]

[Philles/Motown Gary]

THE RAMONES:

https://groovyhistory.com/phil-spector-ramones-album

Sire SRK 6077 - [[Released 2/1980)
THE RAMONES
"End Of The Century"

All tracks written by The Ramones [[Joey Ramone - John Cummings - Dee Dee Ramone - Marky Ramone) unless otherwise noted.

Producer: Phil Spector

Side A:

1) "Do You Remember Rock 'N' Roll Radio"
[[Harvey Kubernik - Jeff Morrison - Maria Montoya - Phast Phreddie - Rodney Bingenheimer)
https://youtu.be/SZjEZpm8L90

2) "I'm Affected"
[[The Ramones)
https://youtu.be/QGcDVMYs1l8

3) "Danny Says"
[[The Ramones)
https://youtu.be/kH4XGRDJ0P4

4) "Chinese Rock"
[[The Ramones)
https://youtu.be/tBL0wKAD_xc

5) "The Return Of Jackie And Judy"
[[Harvey Kubernik - Jeff Morrison - Maria Montoya - Phast Phreddie - Rodney Bingenheimer)
https://youtu.be/A-FO-ZsQtOg

6) "Let's Go"
[[The Ramones)
https://youtu.be/fi13zs_88KU

Side B:

1) "Baby, I Love You"
[[Jeff Barry - Ellie Greenwich - Phil Spector)
https://youtu.be/qO3F5Kayz8I

2) "I Can't Make It On Time"
[[The Ramones)
https://youtu.be/J9eAAnSApVM

3) "This Ain't Havana"
[[The Ramones)
https://youtu.be/n8ECCDo1oU8

4) "Rock 'N' Roll High School"
[[The Ramones)
https://youtu.be/2OFLgrl7YGM

5) "All The Way"
[[The Ramones)
https://youtu.be/5h66LjOiU4Y

6) "High-Risk Insurance"
[[The Ramones)
https://youtu.be/qwHDzYiwiZo

[Philles/Motown Gary]

CELINE DION:

The 1990s' unreleased Phil Spector sessions. People who have been lucky enough to hear them say they're among the best recordings of Celine's career. Here's the story:

https://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/arts/30-days-of-celine-dion-the-infamous-unreleased-phil-spector-tracks

[Philles/Motown Gary]

STARSAILOR:

[NOTE: Group members - Ben Byrne, James Stelfox, James Walsh, and Barry Westhead]

From Wikipedia:

For their second album, "Silence Is Easy", which was recorded in Los Angeles, Starsailor teamed up with Phil Spector. The collaboration came about following Spector's daughter Nicole attending one of the band's American concerts in the winter of 2002. Spector was reported to have been fascinated by "Lullaby", the band's fourth single. After meeting the producer, the band agreed to work with him on their second album. However, the collaboration was short-lived, as sessions at London's Abbey Road proved difficult. Spector is said to have dismissed Ben Byrne's drumming, and proved difficult to work with. Only two tracks made the band's second album: the title track, "Silence Is Easy", and "White Dove", both of which were hits.

The band co-produced seven of the other tracks with Danton Supple, and former The Stone Rose's and Radiohead producer John Leckie was brought in to oversee the recording of "Shark Food".


Article by Michele Yamamoto

Britain's Starsailor were the last band to work with Phil Spector, who was convicted of second degree murder for the death for Lana Clarkson. Spector worked with the band on their second release, 2003's Silence is Easy, producing two songs on that album. In light of past events, Starsailor's lead vocalist James Walsh has released a statement about what it was like working with Spector before Clarkson's murder. Walsh's statement is as such:

"Recording with Phil Spector was an amazing experience at the time. I had grown up with Imagine and was just getting into the brilliant Born To Be With You [[the album Spector produced for Dion) when we got the call. The two tracks 'Silence Is Easy' and 'White Dove' were recorded in the first week of working with him. He then returned to LA and came back to England some weeks later a different character. The outgoing charismatic producer we had met previously had become withdrawn and hard to communicate with. We persevered as long as we could out of respect for the man and his reputation, but we had to call it a day after a while.

[NOTE: Starsailor has reported that Phil was a joy to work with while recording "Silence Is Easy" and "White Dove". However, when Phil returned from his trip to the U.S., he had become a different person. Several instrumental backing tracks which Phil had prepared for the group sounded like they had been thrown together quickly and carelessly with every song sounding alike, with the drum arrangements sounding identical on every track. When Starsailor expressed their concern to Phil, his attitude was, "Well, it's your album. That's up to you." Soon after, however, Phil brought in Alan Klein who blasted the group. Unfortunately, that was the end of Starsailor's Phil Spector productions.

Lead singer James Walsh regarding Phil's arrest for murder: It is hard for me to pass judgment on whether he is guilty or innocent. We certainly never saw an aggressive side to him while we worked with him but, like everybody else, we do not know exactly what went on inside that house."


EMI 7243 590007 2 5 [[Released 2003)
STARSAILOR
"Silence Is Easy"

Producer: Phil Spector [[Tracks 4 & 8)

1) "Music Was Saved"
[[J. Walsh - B. Westhead - J. Stelfox - B. Byrne)
Producers: Danton Supple & Starsailor
https://youtu.be/-ARxri21y1M

2) "Fidelity"
[[J. Walsh - B. Westhead - J. Stelfox - B. Byrne)
Producers: Danton Supple & Starsailor
https://youtu.be/sXqNadfuaV4

3) "Some Of Us"
[[J. Walsh - B. Westhead - J. Stelfox - B. Byrne)
Producers: Danton Supple & Starsailor
https://youtu.be/g7k1rWZQbbU

4) "Silence Is Easy"
[[J. Walsh - B. Westhead - J. Stelfox - B. Byrne)
Producer: Phil Spector
https://youtu.be/fglU5Ngd-Pk

5) "Telling Them"
[[J. Walsh - B. Westhead - J. Stelfox - B. Byrne)
Producers: Danton Supple & Starsailor
https://youtu.be/bk-e9VOFsbI

6) "Shark Food"
[[J. Walsh - B. Westhead - J. Stelfox - B. Byrne)
Producer: John Leckie
https://youtu.be/wyKboS8uHfk

7) "Bring My Love"
[[J. Walsh - B. Westhead - J. Stelfox - B. Byrne)
Producers: Danton Supple & Starsailor
https://youtu.be/3X4tEbHVrZI

8) "White Dove"
[[J. Walsh - B. Westhead - J. Stelfox - B. Byrne)
Producer: Phil Spector
https://youtu.be/SF-UUzdv5CY

9) "Four To The Floor"
[[J. Walsh - B. Westhead - J. Stelfox - B. Byrne)
Producers: Danton Supple & Starsailor
https://youtu.be/oeXWyXlGkyg

[PERSONAL NOTE: "Four To The Floor's" string passages are very Motown-esque!]

10) "Born Again"
[[J. Walsh - B. Westhead - J. Stelfox - B. Byrne)
Producers: Danton Supple & Starsailor
https://youtu.be/F5YCERDGnAU

11) "Restless Heart"
[[J. Walsh - B. Westhead - J. Stelfox - B. Byrne)
Producers: Danton Supple & Starsailor
https://youtu.be/K7ITqya-no4

[NOTE: Personally speaking, although Phil produced only two of the tracks on Starsailor's "Silence Is Easy" album -- both of which were sizeable hits -- it's an amazingly good collection of songs. Thanks to lead singer James Walsh's vocals and some mighty beautiful arrangements, I find myself more and more mesmerized with each listening session.]

[Boogiedown]

good stuff once again Gary.


Gary:

2) "Don't Go Home With Your Hard-On"
https://youtu.be/AxQ7YJH0vxg


Don't know why I honed in on this song right off, go figure:p, but what a fun composition that could've easily been a hit imo had they done something more appropriate with the lyrical content . Has some Disco Tex vibrancy about it, maybe John Lennon's spirited WHATEVER GETS YOU THRU THE NIGHT....



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLK2buZxamo

It's meant to be a rowdy bar / beer drinking song and nothing more I reckon, but if hit making were on their minds, I think they wasted an opportunity .
Great horns.

you can't shake it or break it with your Motown......

[Philles/Motown Gary]

Thanks, Boogie! Now, out of all the songs posted within this thread, why am I not surprised that you managed to single out this one particular tune?!!! Ha! And with your tongue hangin' out, no less!!! HaHa!!!

[marv2]

I wasn't sure which thread to put this,but it is definitely worth a watch!

ROCKIN' & ROLLIN' WITH PHIL SPECTOR [[1983 Documentary)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLYDsBJ9S2M

[Philles/Motown Gary]

I wasn't sure which thread to put this,but it is definitely worth a watch!

ROCKIN' & ROLLIN' WITH PHIL SPECTOR [[1983 Documentary)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLYDsBJ9S2M

Marv, it wouldn't matter which thread you filed this under. It's original title was "Da Doo Ron Ron: The Story Of Phil Spector" documentary from a 1993 DVD which is excellent. Unfortunately, the attitude of the older dude who clearly hates Phil Spector and his Wall Of Sound was reflective of those in the music business who were jealous of Phil and resented him for doing things HIS way and succeeding! Thanks for finding this gem -- especially for those who are seeing it for the first time.

[Motown Eddie]

Thanks again Philles/MotownGary for another [[and final) look at the Phil Spector catalog. I've never even heard of Starsailor's Silence Is Easy.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

You're welcome, Ed. This isn't the last Phil Spector thread. There will still be 2 or 3 more! After all, it's nearly November. Isn't "Christmas" right around the corner?!!! And, until a few years ago, Starsailor was new to me, too. I love their "Silence Is Easy" album! Real good stuff!

[marv2]

Look what I found!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5GoGClBvOg

[Philles/Motown Gary]

Look what I found!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5GoGClBvOg

Wow! I had forgotten all about this scene, Marv! This is the first I've seen it in years! It's been reported by friends who knew Phil that there were two Phil Spectors -- the "good" Phil and the "evil" Phil. When the good Phil had his wits about him, he was a joy to be around and had a great sense of humor which can clearly be seen in this video. But when his demons took over and paranoia set in, the evil Phil took control of him and made him scary and unpredictable, especially after a trip to England when Andrew Loog Oldham introduced him to the mixture of hard drugs [[which Phil had never done) and booze. That's the lethal mixture that led to the crazy gun-toting Phil who shot holes in the ceiling of a recording studio to show the post-Philles rock musicians who was boss. This Genie video with Boyce & Hart clearly shows Phil in a good frame of mind. The scene where Phil's tongue-in-cheek look of surprise when Genie is playing the stand-up bass is clearly the good Phil whom his friends and the Philles Wrecking Crew saw. Priceless! Thanks, Marv! I love it!